Tokyo 2020 - Sifan Hassan confirms she will attempt historic distance-running treble on the track at Olympic Games
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Updated 01/08/2021 at 09:42 GMT
The Dutch runner will compete in the 1500 metres, 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres in six gruelling races in just eight days. Hassan took gold in both the shortest and longest of the three distances at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+
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Sifan Hassan has confirmed that she will attempt an historic tilt at a distance-running treble at Tokyo 2020.
The Dutch athlete will compete in each of the women's 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m.
Such a target will involve as many as six gruelling, and very different, races in just eight days.
Hassan is the reigning world champion at both 1,500m and 10,000m.
She secured both of those titles in outstanding fashion in Doha in 2019.
Earlier this year, she briefly held the world record over the longest distance on the track before Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia beat her time just two days later.
The challenge for Hassan, however, will be great with conditions in Tokyo hot and exceptionally humid.
“For me it is crucial to follow my heart,” Hassan explained of taking on all three races.
“Doing that is far more important than gold medals. That keeps me motivated and it keeps me enjoying this beautiful sport.”
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Hassan won her heat of the 5,000m on Friday.
She will run twice on Monday, first in the opening round of the 1,500m in the morning session and then the final of the 5,000m in the evening, with the latter race set to begin at 1.30pm BST.
Her focus leading up to the Olympics has been on the longer two events.
It is possible that a woman runs under 29 minutes over 10,000 metres on the track for the first times.
As distance-running paradigms continue to be shattered, powered by advances in shoe technology, Gidey's new world record of 29:01.03 could be pushed by a strong field in Tokyo.
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